How big are most garbage disposals?
Consumers shopping for a garbage disposal have many features to consider.
We have reviewed disposals based on horsepower (HP), sound minimizing technology, and ease of installation.
But what about garbage disposal dimensions?
How big are they and how do they fit underneath your sink?
If space underneath your sink is limited, this can be particularly important especially when considering what items need to be stored under the sink alongside a garbage disposal. If you are new to disposals and aren’t sure what to expect in terms of size, the following table can give you an idea of how much space you’ll need under your sink.
Some Typical Garbage Disposal Dimensions and Examples
In this section we've included a few examples of real garbage disposals with corresponding dimensions. Note that the dimensions are in inches.
Brand Name, Model Number (HP) Dimensions (inches)
InSinkErator Badger 5 ½ HP | 6.3 x 6.3 x 11.5 |
InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR ¾ HP | 8.75 x 8.75 x 12.6 |
InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1HP | 13 x 12 x 12 |
InSinkErator Evolution Compact ¾ HP | 8 x 8 x12.1 |
InSinkErator Pro 1100 XL 1HP | 9 x 9 x 13.5 |
Waste King L-8000 1HP | 8.5 x 8.5 x 16 |
Waste King L-111 ⅓ HP | 5.25 x 5.25 x 12.75 |
Moen GX375 Host Series 3/4HP | 9.69 x 9.69 x 14.8 |
Emerson E202 | 7.3 x 7.3 x 13.25 |
Waste Maid -10-US-WM-058-3B 1/2HP | 5.2 x 5.2 x 13.9 |
Wide Range
Although this list is far from exhaustive, it provides a good cross section of some of the most common garbage disposal choices and corresponding measurements. At a range of somewhere around seven inches from most narrow to widest, these units may not seem to vary much, but depending on the space under the kitchen sink, seven inches can make a big difference.
Here's an example dimensions image from Plumbingsupply.com:
Example of typical garbage disposal dimensions.
Measure, Measure, Measure
Before pulling the trigger on a garbage disposal, make sure to measure at least twice to be completely sure you know how much space you have to work with. No one wants to realize their disposal won’t fit after the purchase is made, or (worse yet), halfway through the installation process.
Staging Items
In fact, we recommend staging items that you would like to store under the kitchen sink and measuring the remaining space before making a final decision on which disposal to go with. Doing so ensures that not only will your new unit fit, but you won’t be forced to rearrange your whole kitchen to make it work.
Other items under the sink?
Consider whether or not you have ample space in your kitchen in general. What items you want under the sink and if you don’t live alone, be sure to confer with housemates about their expectations of what should be stored under the sink so that everyone has a positive experience once the disposal is installed.
Wrap it Up
The bottom line is this:
There are plenty of choices and varying sizes for those interested in a new garbage disposal, but a little leg work and proactive consideration can go a long way to making sure you purchase the right disposal for your available cabinet space, your lifestyle and your kitchen.
If you are interested in any other aspect of garbage disposals check out our other review pieces here, and happy shopping!
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AUTHOR:
Molly is a mom of two, DIY enthusiast, real estate investor, and a fan of modern kitchen decor.
The Moen might be 0.75 hp. That would be appropriate for a kitchen. ( 75hp would be, maybe, 60 amps, and no house circuit is designed for that.)
Yeah I’m assuming that was a typo.
Where’s the specification for the hole in the sink?
The hole in my sink is 5″-6″
What are my options?
Whoa, that’s pretty big. Can you send me the brand/model of the sink?
One thing we encountered with our new MOEN disposal (75 HP) was that they reduced the aperature which we used to have to retrieve things from !! Now, we can’t even fit our hands (and mine are tiny) into the stupid thing to retrieve broken glass etc.
Oh jeez, sorry to hear that Sue. That’s a pain. Thank you for sharing your story though. I think it’ll be helpful to people considering this model.